Climate Change was first addressed as an ‘international issue’ as early as 1988. In August 2021, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change or IPCC released a report to which the UN referred to as the “red code for humanity”. This report elucidated and warned about the natural changes that have been onset by climate change. This blog talks about Climate Change and the causes of climate change.
Climate change refers to the long-term change in the temperature and typical weather of a place. Climate change is the long term shift in the climate of Earth. It is identified by erratic and unprecedented changes in climate. It accounts for both changes in variability and average conditions. Long term effects may cause larger and unseen calamities. Climate is naturally variable and works on a time scale. The incoming and outgoing energy keeps the natural balance. Climate change offsets this balance causing great stress on the planet The contemporary climate of our planet is affected by both natural and man made sources. The offset of the natural energy balance causes change in climate. This change is directly influenced by the time scale and grows more grave with time. The Earth’s climate has a complex but sensitive eco-system. The climate can be affected by natural sources foreign to its climate system. These changes work on a large time scale to actually have observable effects. Two of the natural causes relevant to the natural timescale are -> Volcanic Eruptions are rare but often quite powerful. The volcanic activity of a large scale can release a huge amount of energy and ash. This large change in energy input causes the climate to change episodically. Changes in solar irradiance have contributed to causes climate change. Solar energy acts outside to the natural climate system and directly influences it. This input of energy causes the climate to change based on trends over years. Human activities especially since the industrial revolution have caused major changes in climate. In comparison to the natural causes, human activity in only one century is fifty times the effect of natural causes since the birth of our planet. Major causes of man made causes of climate change are: Human activity since the industrial revolution has added a lot of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. These include but are not limited to the Burning of fossil fuels and deforestation are major contributions to greenhouse effect. Human influence on the climate has increased exponentially. In addition to degradation of environment these activities emit various agents into the atmosphere. This slow but gradual build up of greenhouse gases from these sources have exponentially increased the greenhouse effect. The current trend of greenhouse effect has an immense potential to warm the planet. This level of increase has never been experienced in the history of our planet and has/will have far-reaching consequences. Ponder over: Is climate change a consequence of human activities? Read about: Are we too late to stop climate change?
“Red code for humanity”
Natural balance and climate change:
Causes of climate change :
Natural Causes:
Man-Made Causes:
Consequences of these changes:
Conclusion:
What climate change can mean for humans, environment and nature?
Humans
Environment
Nature